To remedy the inequity and to help shore up the Southern Radical Republican Reconstruction regimes, a 15th Amendment to the Constitution was proposed in February 1869. It stated simply that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." There was much debate in Congress about what should be included in the Amendment. Henry Adams remarked that the 15th Amendment was "more remarkable for what it does not than for what it does contain
questions
1. What year was this amendment proposed?
2. What year was it ratified?
3. Is this amendment still alive?
4. Should color mater?
5. Is there still slavery?
Court cases
U.S. Supreme Court Myers v. Anderson, 238 U.S. 368 (1915) Myers v. Anderson Nos. 8, 9, 10 Argued November 11, 1913
Decided June 21, 1915 238 U.S. 368
In Smith vs. Allwright, 1944, Lonnie E. Smith, who was a black voter in Texas, sued for the right to vote in a primary election conducted by the democratic party that required all voters in its primary to be white. And Because the Democcratic party controlled politics in the south, most southern elections were decided in the democratic primary. The State of Texas argued that the Democratic Party was a private organization, but Smith said that the restriction of a whites only primary denied him the ability to vote in the only meaningful election in his jurisdiction. The court decided that indeed the State of Texas infringed the 15th Amendment and denied Smith his protection of the right to vote. Smith v. Allwright, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_v._Allwright
Key quotes from my amendment
1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Key quotes about my amendment
“I would sooner cut off my right hand than ask for the ballot for the black man and not for woman.”
(Susan B. Anthony, qtd. in McFeely, p. 266)
“The question of suffrage is one which is likely to agitate the public so long as a portion of the citizens of the nation are excluded from its privileges in any State. It seems to be very desirable that this question should be settled now, and I entertain the hope and express the desire that it may be by the ratification of the fifteenth article of amendment to the Constitution.” (Ulysses S. Grant, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1869)
"U.S. Constitution - Table of Contents - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst.html>.
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by bobby kemley
2. What year was it ratified?
3. Is this amendment still alive?
4. Should color mater?
5. Is there still slavery?
U.S. Supreme Court Myers v. Anderson, 238 U.S. 368 (1915) Myers v. Anderson Nos. 8, 9, 10 Argued November 11, 1913
Decided June 21, 1915 238 U.S. 368
In Smith vs. Allwright, 1944, Lonnie E. Smith, who was a black voter in Texas, sued for the right to vote in a primary election conducted by the democratic party that required all voters in its primary to be white. And Because the Democcratic party controlled politics in the south, most southern elections were decided in the democratic primary. The State of Texas argued that the Democratic Party was a private organization, but Smith said that the restriction of a whites only primary denied him the ability to vote in the only meaningful election in his jurisdiction. The court decided that indeed the State of Texas infringed the 15th Amendment and denied Smith his protection of the right to vote. Smith v. Allwright, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_v._Allwright
1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
“I would sooner cut off my right hand than ask for the ballot for the black man and not for woman.”
(Susan B. Anthony, qtd. in McFeely, p. 266)
“The question of suffrage is one which is likely to agitate the public so long as a portion of the citizens of the nation are excluded from its privileges in any State. It seems to be very desirable that this question should be settled now, and I entertain the hope and express the desire that it may be by the ratification of the fifteenth article of amendment to the Constitution.”
(Ulysses S. Grant, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1869)
2. 2/3/1870
3. Alive
4. No
5. Yes
"15th Amendment." Ask.com Search Engine - Better Web Search. 31 Mar. 2009 <http://www.ask.com/bar?q=15th+amendment&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcivilwar.bluegrass.net%2FSlaveryAndEmancipation%2F15thamendment.html>.
"15th Amendment to the Constitution: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. 31 Mar. 2009 <http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/15thamendment.html>
"WikiAnswers - What are some court cases involving the 15Th amendment." WikiAnswers - The Q&A wiki. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_court_cases_involving_the_15Th_amendment>.
"U.S. Constitution - Table of Contents - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. 29 Apr. 2009 <http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst.html>.